I've written before that not all Italians are in the mafia. There's a long history of Chicago mobsters like Al Capone and Bugs Moran vacationing in Wisconsin, but apparently the practice isn't history.
A Roman Catholic priest pleaded not guilty today to federal charges he tried to help Outfit hit man Frank Calabrese Sr. spirit a family violin away from the federal government after it had seized the imprisoned mobster’s possessions.Klein, who administered daily communion to Calabrese at the prison in Springfield, Mo., is accused of passing messages from the notorious mobster and conspiring with two others to try to steal the violin believed to be hidden in Calabrese’s vacation home in Wisconsin. Calabrese thought the instrument was a Stradivarius worth millions of dollars.Calabrese, serving a life sentence for killing more than a dozen people in mob hits, was under highly restricted conditions in federal prison after allegedly threatening to have a prosecutor killed. He can talk to only his attorneys, doctors, prison officials and a priest. Communication with the outside world is barred – including by note, letter or phone.According to the charges, Klein violated the special conditions when he passed messages on Calabrese’s behalf.
But, have no fear, the mafia isn't dead yet... just so far undercover the Crime Commission doesn't even know who they are:
In fact, the Outfit has become so secretive that mob watchers are no longer sure who the top boss is.Matt is a bit skeptical of my lack of mob connections due to this little item from a year ago:
An recent request filed with the office of State Representative Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa) by former One Wisconsin Now minion and current blogger Cory Liebmann:Please be advised that I am requesting the following public records of Rep. Leah Vukmir’s office under the state’s open records law:1. All email from 7/1/08 through 1/20/10 for Rep. Vukmir, Dean Cady and Matthew Adamczyk (only in his capacity working for Rep. Vukmir) that fit the following search words and names:“Jim Sullivan”, “Sullivan”, “WPRI”, “Wisconsin Policy Research Institute”, “MacIver”, “Americans for Prosperity”, “AFP”, “Sykes”, “Belling”, “Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce”, “WMC”, “Grebe”, “Kohler”, “Bradley Foundation”, “Obama”, “Palin”, “McCain”, “ALEC”, “American Legislative Exchange Council”, “Republican”, “Democrat”, “GOP”, “Barrett”, “Scott Walker”, “Lawton”, “Healy”, “Jensen”, “Zignego”, “Walton”, “Wal-Mart”, “Sprenger”, “Pro-Life Wisconsin”...
The vast right-wing conspiracy doesn't use the internet, fool.
Also, I have been told traffic to the BC increases on man-hating post days (and Matt finds it greatly amusing), so I guess that means I am due to post an update about online dating! I also want to write something about feminism and what it means for women these days... And in some capacity, I want to comment on this article about how men express interest in dating women (I do agree with some points, such as this, "A man who does not call is likely not interested... Men pursue. He will pursue if he is interested" but I have, ahhh, philosophical issues with that. But that's another post, I promise!)
Also, I have been told traffic to the BC increases on man-hating post days (and Matt finds it greatly amusing), so I guess that means I am due to post an update about online dating! I also want to write something about feminism and what it means for women these days... And in some capacity, I want to comment on this article about how men express interest in dating women (I do agree with some points, such as this, "A man who does not call is likely not interested... Men pursue. He will pursue if he is interested" but I have, ahhh, philosophical issues with that. But that's another post, I promise!)
8 comments:
I was told by a certain Italian I know that I would be sent a severed horses head and not just a fish in the mail.... I'm already contacting the witness protection program.
Oh... did you think I used that picture just for fun? Oops.
Leah Vukmir is a notorious airhead, who doesn't have a coherent thought in her mind, at least none that she has ever displayed in public. She made that very clear in three public debates last fall, sponsored by those well-known left-wing sleeper cells, local chambers of commerce. Why anyone would waste time poring over her political emails is beyond me.
LOL. I think we're flattered that we have a union pro-abort troll on the blog.
Let's see, and add "fanatic" "fantastic" "beer" "vatican spy" "sunshine" and "lollipops" and we are going to get pegged!
Virginia, I eat trolls for breakfast. I've NEVER turned anyone away from anyplace I posted. If I can't stand the heat, I shouldn't be posting in the kitchen. More important, if I can't read anything you care to post, and answer it in a manner that I can confidently stand on, I should rethink what I believe. Your opinion is important because you exist, and we have to share the same state together.
One thing I love about Wisconsin is that there is NO place anyone can indulge in the ideological whine "I don't know how_____ got elected. I don't know ANYONE who voted for him!" We all know people who voted the other way. In most single family residential neighborhoods, anyone can look down the block and see a yard sign pointing the other way. And you can tell that there are genuinely uncommitted people among us by all the signs in Madison saying "I voted for Scott Walker and he spit on me."
Yes, I'm pro-union. Unions are the folks that brought us the week-end, and the leisure time to debate each other on the internet, rather than slaving away in some satanic mill 16 hours a day, 6-7 days a week.
SJ, let me point out that I really am pro-union. Honestly. The problem with certain unions(especially in Wisconsin) is that they were given free reign in negotiation by lackadaisical administrations and their proposal was flat out unsustainable(and the good ol boys would rather fire young teachers than sacrifice to create a system that works). That's the fiscal problem. Also they take stands on social issues that have nothing to do with the job itself, teachers supporting gay "marriage" for example. A good union keeps their efforts much more localized and focused on the real issues that need to be addressed in their industry.
We have grounds for agreement here. Teachers without unions were often the helpless pawns of scheming politicians in many ways, from offering teaching jobs as political patronage, to cutting teacher pay way below what it really should be, as a convenient way to balance the budget. My mother, a life-long Republican and a fiscal conservative, always insisted that if you are going to hire someone, you darn well raise the money (including tax money) to pay them decently.
It is true however, that if one views the public treasury as a source of infinite and painless largesse, demands can become simply unrealistic. More important, if your job is "handling" other human beings, rather than inanimate objects, then your tenure, job security, etc. is subject to other considerations, like the good of the children.
I can sympathize with teachers thinking that taking a stand for gay marriage is as legitimate as taking a stand for, e.g., elimination of racial barriers. I see a difference: dark skin color isn't about an act, its about a secondary characteristic, but I don't favor coming down hard on unions, as unions, because sometimes they exercise their right to free speech in ways that maybe don't show the best judgement.
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